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prerogative

Pronunciation: /prɪˈrɒgətɪv/
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Definition of prerogative

noun

  • a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class:in some countries, higher education is predominantly the prerogative of the rich
  • (also royal prerogative) [mass noun] the right of the sovereign, which in British law is theoretically subject to no restriction.
  • a faculty or property distinguishing a person or class:it’s not a female prerogative to feel insecure

adjective

Law, British
  • arising from the prerogative of the Crown (usually delegated to the government or the judiciary) and based in common law rather than statutory law:the monarch retained the formal prerogative power to appoint the Prime Minister

Origin:

late Middle English: via Old French from Latin praerogativa '(the verdict of) the political division which was chosen to vote first in the assembly', feminine (used as noun) of praerogativus 'asked first', from prae 'before' + rogare 'ask'

Spelling help

Remember that prerogative begins with pre-.

Spelling tip

the prerogative powers and rights enjoyed by the monarch.

prerogative in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of prerogative in the US English dictionary
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